When live streaming, it is important that you have at least 5 Mbps of upload internet speed (7 Mbps or higher preferred) for your broadcast.
If you are experiencing a 'connection is unstable' error during your StreamYard live streams, even with high internet speeds and after following standard troubleshooting steps, the issue may be related to the stability of your internet connection rather than its speed. Packet loss and bandwidth fluctuations can disrupt your stream even if your speeds are high. In such cases, prioritizing network stability is essential for a smooth streaming experience. We recommend plugging in directly to your router via Ethernet when possible.
How to test your speeds
To test the speed of your internet, go to speed.cloudflare.com.
You will see many results, such as your download speed, upload speed, latency and packet loss. The numbers that matter most are:
- Upload speed: As mentioned earlier, you want your upload speed to be at least 5 mbps-7 mbps or higher.
- Latency: High latency values (> 100ms) can impact your ability to stream in real time. Make sure your results do not exceed this threshold.
- Packet loss: This measurement represents the amount of data that your connection "dropped" along the way, failing to deliver some of your video content to the server. This value should not exceed 2% of the total packets to be sent.
Although a decent download speed allows you to view other participants' streams at the best quality available, this value does not influence the quality of your own output.
How Do I Improve My Internet Speeds For Live Streaming?
Here are some practical steps you can follow before—and during—your broadcast to keep a smooth, high-quality StreamYard session:
- Go wired whenever possible: Plug your computer directly into the router with an Ethernet cable. If Wi-Fi is unavoidable, use the 5 GHz band, position yourself close to the access point, and keep the line of sight clear.
- Reduce background traffic: Pause cloud-backup apps (Dropbox, iCloud, OneDrive, Google Drive, etc.), large downloads, automatic OS updates, and other streaming services on the same network.
- Limit competing devices: Make sure other devices on your network are not using significant bandwidth (e.g., streaming, gaming, large downloads) while you are live.
- Reboot your router: If you are facing low network quality issues, reboot your router 10-15 minutes before you go live to clear stale sessions.
- Optimize inside StreamYard: In Settings → Camera, drop the outgoing resolution to 720p / 480p if your tests show low stats, or if you start noticing degradation issues while live.
- Coach your guests: Encourage every participant to test their own connection and go through these steps.
If you continue to experience unstable connection errors after following these recommendations, the problem may be due to underlying issues with your internet connection's stability. In this case, we recommend contacting your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for further troubleshooting and support.